The Venus of the soup kitchen is waiting there for meAnd all us poor cripples who've been in the warsAnd up sleeping on her floorWhoa!When you're scared of down and outYou keep it to yourself and if anyone suspectsYou say : Who me ? Hardly !You tell him Thank your stars, this isn't Derby day'Cause it's clear you've got the gift for backing the wrong horse, Charlie.Whoa!

When you're scared of down and outYou camouflage your fear with a fakin' D.J. smileAnd maybe some boogie dancin'But there's no need to be proudHey if something's hurtin' youCould be it hurts your brothers tooFrom Langley Park to MemphisLast night, last night I dreamed I dared to raise my head

The Venus of the soup kitchen stood over meSingin' sometimes the job gets you downYou're ashamed that the word will get roundWell all you poor cripples who've been in the warsEnd up sleeping on my floor.Whoa!

Now some will spin you yarns to keep you quiet for a whileBut you know that's not my style, who needs fancy footwork?'Cos none of it adds up, no it doesn't weigh a thingAnd it doesn't buy you beer, from Langley Park to MemphisLast night, last night I dreamed I dared to raise my head

The Venus of the soup kitchen stood over meSingin' here you are, and I won't tell you've no one else but meEvery night I know you'll be here staring hungrilyWell here you are, no I won't tell 'cos everyone I knowWanders down here every night they've nowhere else to go.The Venus of the soup kitchen is standing there over meEvery night I'm gonna be here staring hungrily

The Venus of the soup kitchen is waiting there for meAnd all us poor cripples who've been in the warsEnd up sleeping on her floor